Radio ho-ho-ho: Where to go

Even with Jack Frost sort of nipping at my nose this cold post-Thanksgiving weekend, I found excuses to go out and drive somewhere.

The reason: The cheery boost of 24-hour Christmas music on two San Antonio radio stations this year: KQXT-FM (Q101.9) and KSMG-FM (Magic 105.3).

KQXT started its annual and beloved non-stop holiday music run even before Thanksgiving. I found myself bopping around my car to everything from Bing Crosby and Nat King Cole classics to “Let it Snow! Let it Snow! Let it Snow!” by Michael Bublé. The station also played country goodies galore, ranging from Gene Autry’s “Up on the Housetop” to the duet from Kenny Rogers and Dolly Parton, “A Christmas to Remember.”

On to KSMG, this is the first year Magic is going all Christmas, all the time. The month-long marathon started early Nov. 23 and will continue through the big day.

It’s playing all the traditional songs from the traditional artists, but you’ll also hear new takes on old favorites, such as “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” by Cold Play.

Virgil Thompson, Magic’s programming boss, believes there’s room for two 24/7 Christmas stations. He may be right. I know KQXT, in recent years, has skipped to the top of the fall ratings books with its November and December strategy. People lap up this stuff with more enthusiasm during this season than hot “Grog” or eggnog.

One number you won’t find on Magic, Thomson said, is the Cheech & Chong carol, “Santa Claus and His Old Lady.”

Where can you get that, um, classic? On rude and raucous KISS-FM (99.5), naturally.